Muswell Hill Mosque Set On Fire In Suspected EDL Attack

Counter terror police are investigating whether a fire that completely destroyed a mosque in North London was started deliberately.

The building in Muswell Hill, which houses the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre and Somali Bravanese Welfare Association, was razed to the ground by the blaze.

Police said they were treating the blaze as suspicious amid reports that EDL graffiti was found daubed on the charred building in what could be another revenge attack for the killing of Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said if the fire did turn out to be a hate attack it would constitute "an attack on the whole community."

The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday

Six engines and around 35 firefighters attended the blaze but the two-storey building partially collapsed.

One woman from a nearby property in Muswell Hill suffered shock and was treated at the scene, London Ambulance Service said.

He said: “This is shocking but it will not break the community as a whole, I would appeal to the people who did this to come and sit down with us and have a dialogue. That is the only way forward.”

Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue said: "This terrible attack on a peaceful community centre has shocked us all and the sympathies of everyone at Muswell Hill Synagogue are with our local Muslim community today. We will work to ensure that the Bravanese community have all the support they need and that this disgraceful incident does not disrupt the harmony that exists between all our local communities."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called by London Fire Brigade at 3.25am on Wednesday June 5 to reports of a fire at a community centre on Coppetts Road, N10.

"Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended. No one has been reported injured at this time.

"The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and two properties were evacuated close to the fire."

Muslim leaders have expressed fears over the "massive spike" in Islamophobic abuse following the butchering of a solider in Woolwich. Grimsby mosque was targeted with firebombs in the wake of the attacks and anti-Muslim graffiti has appeared in graveyards and mosques have had their windows broken.

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Fire destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill

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Picture By Dave Wortley

Picture By Dave Wortley

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning

Police officers are investigating whether a fire which destroyed an Islamic centre in Muswell Hill was started deliberately in a racially-motivated attack. Police confirm reports that the letters EDL were found near the remains of the building. Police are investigating the fire, which started at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning